May 16, 2026 – Charlotte, NC – The Charlotte Independence Soccer Club (CISC) hires Christopher Maimone to its MLS NEXT Homegrown staff. Most recently, Maimone served as the Director of Boys Player Development and MLS NEXT Homegrown Head Coach at Northern Virginia Alliance (NVA).  “I’m very thankful for the opportunity to join Charlotte Independence SC and become part of the MLS NEXT Homegrown staff,” said Christopher Maimone. “Charlotte Independence has built a strong reputation for creating a professional environment centered around player development, ambition, and long-term growth, which made this opportunity especially exciting for me. “Throughout my coaching journey, I’ve been fortunate to work with outstanding players, families, and colleagues who have helped shape me both personally and professionally. I’m excited for this new challenge, and I’m looking forward to building strong relationships and helping players maximize their potential both on and off the field.” While at Northern Virginia Alliance, Maimone coached the 2011 and 2009 MLS NEXT Homegrown teams. As Director of Boys Player Development, he ensured players were consistently challenged within their development to prepare for MLS NEXT Homegrown competition and expectations. This included aligning and implementing the club’s philosophy, methodology, and competitive objectives across the program. His success in identifying individual player needs and helping players reach their full potential has led to athletes advancing to MLS academies, signing MLS NEXT Pro contracts, and competing within the NCAA landscape. “We are extremely excited to have Chris joining our staff here at the club. He has a strong presence on the field and is very experienced in individual growth and player development. His passion and energy are a perfect fit for us as we venture into our second year in the MLS NEXT Homegrown platform.” Said Charlotte Independence Soccer Club Director of Soccer Neil Roberts. Prior to joining Northern Virginia Alliance, Maimone spent a combined eight years at Richmond Strikers and Richmond United in multiple coaching and leadership roles, most recently serving as the Age Group Director and ECNL-RL Head Coach for Richmond Strikers. During his time there, he guided the Girls Richmond Strikers to an ECNL RL (VA) Championship and a Virginia State Cup Championship, while also leading two Richmond United boys teams to the ECNL National Quarterfinals. Maimone attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where he played for the men’s soccer team while earning a Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science. He later continued his education at Ohio University, earning a Master of Science in Recreation and Sport Sciences with a concentration in Soccer Coaching. He also holds a USSF A-Youth License and earned a Master’s in High Performance Football from MBP Coaches School, also known as the Coaches' Voice School.

May 5, 2026 - Charlotte NC - Independence Soccer congratulates Josh Routte on being named Associate Head Coach at Purdue University Fort Wayne 👏 Josh has been an integral part of the development of our goalkeepers and has overseen the Girls Regional Academy North program for the past two years. “Josh has been a huge part of the success we have had in the goalkeeping program over the past couple seasons, and selfishly we hate to see him leave. He has been a mainstay with the Girls Regional Academy program, where he has been instrumental in the development of our goalkeepers and staff as well. When Josh came on board, he made an immediate impact within the club, which is a testament to his dedication to the goalkeeping program,” said Director of Coaching – Goalkeeping Matt Brown. “As mentioned, we hate to see Josh leave, but we couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity for him and his family. We know Josh will continue to make an impact at the next level, and we look forward to following his journey.”